Higher Systematics of the Pentatomoidea 69
2.2.10.7.2 Aeliini Douglas and Scott, 1865
Douglas and Scott (1865) first proposed this taxon as a family to include two genera, Aelia and Aelioides
Dohrn (now considered to be a junior synonym of Neottiglossa Kirby). Puton (1869) lowered it to tribal
rank, a taxonomic position in which nearly all subsequent workers have treated it. At present, four genera (or
subgenera) and 28 species are included in the Aeliini (Table 2.3). Aelia (Figure 2.28A) and Neottiglossa
(Figure 2.19A) (the latter divided into two subgenera, Neottiglossa s. str. and Tex a s Kirkaldy) are both
definitely members of this tribe. The North African genus Aeliopsis Bergevin is included only because
Bergevin (1931) initially compared his new genus with Aelia. A careful study of Aeliopsis undoubtedly
will result in its removal from this tribe. Bergevin provided a lateral view of the head and pronotum. In
this illustration, the propleura are not expanded anteriorly, and the posterior margins of the bucculae are
greatly expanded, lobate, a character not seen in Aelia or Neottiglossa. The original description of the
genus and its only species, Aeliopsis bucculata Bergevin, leave little doubt that the genus is closely related
and probably identical with Gomphocranum Jakovlev (Carpocorini, see Section 2.2.10.7.12).
Zaidi (1996) provided a different classification of the Aeliini, including five genera with an elon-
gate body from the Indo-Pakistan region: Aelia, Adria Stål, Aeliomorpha Stål, Bonacialus Distant, and
Gulielmus Distant. This classification is highly inconsistent with opinions of other workers. Linnavuori
(1982) gave conclusive evidence for excluding Aeliomorpha from the Aeliini. He, however, did not place
it in any known tribe, but, rather, treated it in its own generic group. Aeliomorpha, Bonacialus, and
Gulielmus have tentatively been placed in the Carpocorini and Adria in the Eysarcorini. These genera,
however, have the mesosternum medially sulcate and, as such, are probably more closely related to the
Aeptini, Myrocheini, or Diploxyini. More recently, Rider (2016) described a new genus, Aeliavuori, as
superficially similar to Aelia (Figure 2.12A). He, however, noted that it had a carinate mesosternum,
and it lacked the prosternal ‘flaps’ characteristic of the Aeliini, and tentatively placed Aeliavuori in the
Carpocorini.
Members of this tribe are characterized by the propleura being greatly expanded anteriorly, covering
or nearly covering the antenniferous tubercles (Figure 2.8I). They are small to medium sized, somewhat
elongate-cylindrical in shape, and usually tan to dark brown in color with a few pale markings on the
dorsum. Species of Neottiglossa (Figure 2.19A) tend to be smaller than species of Aelia (Figure 2.28A).
The head is usually somewhat elongate, triangular in shape with the apices of the juga sometimes swollen
(note: Neottiglossa cavifrons Stål in North America has the apex of the head much more rounded and
concave). The prosternum is deeply sulcate between the propleural lobes, the mesosternum is distinctly
sulcate (Figures 2.7F, G), and the metasternum is weakly concave. The ostiolar rugae are rather short,
nearly obsolete. The abdominal venter is unarmed. The female spermathecal bulb is low and broadly
ball-shaped, with two long, robust, finger-like projections.
Most members are known to feed on various grasses, with several species of Aelia considered to be
pests on wheat (Sunn pest) (Panizzi et al. 2000). The genus Aelia is most speciose in the Mediterranean
and the Middle East, with only one species (A. americana Dallas) occurring in North America. The
genus Neottiglossa has a similar number of species (10-15) in the Palearctic and Nearctic. Most of the
Aelia species were revised by Wagner (1960) and Brown (1962); Old World species of Neottiglossa
were treated by Tamanini (1988); species of both genera occurring in the West Palearctic were keyed
by Derjanschi and Péricart (2005); and the New World species of Neottiglossa were revised by Rider
(1990). Staddon and Abdollahi (1999) dealt with the comparative morphology of the phallus of Aelia and
Neottiglossa.
2.2.10.7.3 Aeptini Stål, 1871
The type genus, Aeptus Dallas, at present contains only a single species, A. singularis Dallas, but at least
two or three undescribed species are known (Figures 2.12B, 2.28B), including one from Madagascar.
Stål (1871) originally included the genera Dymantis Stål, Aeptus, Menestheus Stål, and Eribotes Stål in
his Aeptini, and placed this tribe near the Myrocheini. Bergroth (1920) further refined the tribe, including
only Aeptus from Africa, and several small genera from Australia. Dymantis generally is placed in the